ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has issued a drought alert for parts of the country, warning of worsening conditions in the wake of below-normal rainfall and rising tempera-tures.
This follows an earlier advisory issued on December 9, 2024. According to the PMD, rainfall from Sep-tember 1, 2024, to January 15, 2025, was 40 percent below normal across Pakistan, with Sindh, Balochi-stan, and Punjab being the most affected provinces. The rainfall deficits of 52 percent, 45 percent, and 42 percent, respectively, have been recorded. The drought is particularly affecting rain-fed areas.
In Punjab, mild drought conditions have been observed in Attock, Chakwal, Rawalpindi, Bhakkar, Lay-yah, Multan, Rajanpur, Bahawalnagar, Bahawalpur, Faisalabad, Sargodha, Khushab, Mianwali, and Dera Ghazi Khan.
Sindh is experiencing similar conditions in Ghotki, Jacobabad, Larkana, Sukkur, Karachi, Hyderabad, and Tharparkar. While in Balochistan, affected areas include Ormara, Kharan, Turbat, Panjgur, Lasbela, Dal-bandin, and adjacent regions.
The PMD predicted that drought conditions are likely to aggravate in the coming months due to limited rainfall and above-normal temperatures, which may lead to moderate drought in some regions.
The PMD advised stakeholders and farmers to take pre-emptive measures to mitigate the impact of the drought. Farmers are encouraged to stay updated through the PMD’s official website for guidance on coping with the situation. –Agencies
